Hair grooming device



Feb. 13, 1968 v P. A. LAWRENCE 3,368,569

HAIR GROOMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1964 I 4 52 30 57 m ms/vra/P A r r eA E rs United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device having a frame with a plurality of teeth on opposite sides of the frame, a finger member secured to the frame and extending in substantially parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of the frame along a portion of the length of the frame, the teeth on the portion-of the frame along which the finger extends extending towards the finger with their outer ends terminating in spaced relation thereto. The finger on the frame extends longitudinally outwardly of the frame outer end. The device may include a fluid chamber and a passageway communicating between the chamber and outlet ports adjacent the teeth of the comb. A pump means may be provided to transfer the liquid from the chamber to the outlet ports.

A common problem with most of the grooming devices especially for women is that to be practical they really require more than two hands. This is because of the positions in which the combs and curlers are held and also because so many diiferent appliances are required in the normal course of putting up a womans hair in curlers.

Therefore, it is one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a grooming device which is capable of being held in one hand at all times during the performance of all operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grooming device which serves as a comb, a liquid applicator, and a curling device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a grooming device for applying liquid such as water or dyes to the hair wherein the grooming device has a finger operated valve for continuous variable and positive control of the amount of fluid being applied to the hair.

A related object of this invention is to provide a grooming device for applying to hair wherein two valves are provided, one of which may be set for a fixed amount of fluid to be applied while the other valve may be selectively adjusted as desired.

A still further related object of this invention is to provide a grooming device having a liquid storage chamber in the handle thereof and a passageway connecting thereto with outlets connecting at angles less than 90 degrees to each of the combs teeth thereby facilitating the flow of liquid to the teeth.

Another principal object of this invention is to provide a grooming device so constructed that the device need be turned less than 180 degrees from its position While applying liquid to the hair or when the hair is being combed to its position of use wherein a lock of hair is being straightened and curled.

A related object of this invention is to provide a grooming device wherein the curler portion of the device is so located that it is out of the way of the combs teeth when the grooming device is being used to straighten and curl the hair.

A still further related object of this invention is to provide a grooming device for hair wherein a second pair of smaller teeth are provided opposite the curler finger whereby the hair may engage smaller teeth andthe curler finger simultaneously when the hair is being straightened and curled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hair grooming device which is simple in design, economical to manufacture and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the grooming device in use and in particular showing its position for straightening and/ or curling a lock of hair;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a position of use for the grooming device which may precede or follow the position illustrated in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 illustrates the grooming device rotated less than 180 degrees such that the larger teeth of the grooming device are in engagement with the hair for combing and/ or applying liquid thereto;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the grooming device of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the area enclosed by the line 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the grooming device of FIGS. 1 through 4 but modified to include a second valve means; and

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view of the grooming device illustrated in FIG. 5.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the grooming device of this invention generally referred to by the reference numeral 10 is shown in use on a lock 12 of a girls hair 14.

The comb device 10 includes a frame 16 having a handle portion 18 at one end and a large comb 20 at the opposite end. A portion 22 of the frame 16 extends into the compressible handle 18 which defines a chamber 24 therein and around the frame portion 22. A passageway 26 extends the length of the frame 16 and is in communication with the chamber 24. Also, outlet ports 28 are in communication with the space 30 between adjacent teeth 32.

Liquid is normally stored in the chamber 24 of the handle 18 and upon the handle 18 being compressed the liquid is forced through the passageway 26 to the outlet ports 28 to thereby distribute fluid to the teeth 32 of the comb. The facilitate the transmission of this fluid to the teeth 32 the outlet ports 28 are formed along a line extending at an angle of less than degrees to the line of flow of the liquid through the passageway 26. Therefore, the resistance to flow is substantially less since a less abrupt change in the line of flow is required to reach the teeth than in the case for example where the outlet ports 28 extend perpendicularly to the line of flow through the passageway 26.

The resilient compressible handle 18 includes an annular shoulder 36 which is received in an annular groove 38 formed in the frame 26 as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, to fill the chamber 24 of the resilient handle 18 it is only necessary to pull on frame 16 to disengage the shoulder 36 from the groove 38. Once the handle 18 has been filled, the frame with its handle portion 22 may be reinserted into the chamber 24.

To control the flow of liquid from the chamber 24 to the teeth 32, a normally closed finger operated valve assembly 40 has been provided in the frame 16. It includes a finger engaging portion 42 having a pair of holes 44 extending therethrough and disposed at degrees to each other. An enlarged seat portion 46 is received in a well 48 and extends into the passageway 26 and normally bears against the top surface thereof to completely close off the passageway. A spring 50 is positioned against the bottom surface of the seat portion 46 in the well 48 and is held in position by a set screw 52 which is threaded into the lower end of the well 48. Thus, when it is desired to transmit fluid from the chamber 24 to the teeth 32 it is only necessary to press the handle 18 and depress the valve means 40 to place one of the openings 44 in communication with the passageway 26. The amount of flow through the openings 44 may be varied in accordance with the amount the valve means 40 is depressed.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a curler finger 60 is provided as an integral portion of the frame 16 wherein one end 62 connects adjacent the handle 18 to the frame 16 on the top side thereof and extends along the length of the frame and terminates in a tapered free end portion 64 disposed longitudinally outwardy of the frame '16 having the comb teeth 32. The curler fingers 60 and the comb teeth 32 are in the same plane and additionally smaller teeth 66 are provided on the top surface of the frame 16 and extend towards the finger 60. A space 70 is defined between the teeth 66 and the finger 60 for receiving the lock of hair 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Thus it is seen that in use, the liquid which may be water or dye or the like is applied by the grooming de- Vice being placed in the position illustrated in FIG. 2 and then by a quick twist of the wrist to the position of FIG. 1. A lock of hair may be positioned in the space 70 between the fingers 60 and the back surface of the comb frame 16 having the teeth 66. If the comb is turned less than 180 degrees from its position in FIG. 2, the hair 12 will extend diagonally through the space 70 and thereby engagethe teeth 66 and the curler finger 60 simultaneously as the grooming device 10 is moved along the length of the lock of hair 12. The teeth 66 will obviously serve to spread out the hair in the lock 12 and thereby arrange it so that it can be easily curled as illustrated by the curl 72 in FIG. 2.

It is emphasized that not only is it simple and convenient to position the grooming device 10 in either of the positions of FIGS. 1 or 2 by a simple twist of the wrist but also it is important that the grooming device he compact and have the curler 60 which is so positioned that when used the larger teeth 32 are completely out of the way of the hair and therefore do not interfere with the operation as illustrated in FIG. 1.

To give optional positive control over the flow of liquid through the passageway 26, a second valve assembly 80 has been added to the grooming device 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The valve assembly 80 includes a thumb screw 82 threadably received in the frame 16A. The lower end portion 84 of the thumb screw 82 extends into the passageway 26 and is adapted to bear against the bottom surface thereof. It is seen that in FIG. 6 that'the portion 84 even when extended fully into the passageway 26 does not completely close off the passageway as fluid may pass by both sides thereof and to some extent beneath the portion 84. The important function of the valve assembly 80 is that it may be set at a predetermined position to definitely control the amount of fluid that will reach the first valve assembly 40 which is quick acting and finger actuated. Accordingly, for thin fluids such as water or the like the so-called master valve 80 might be fully extended into the passageway 26 while for heavier thicker fluids such as creamy hair wave solutions the valve 80 could be opened up to permit the desired amount of fluid to pass through the passageway 26 when the first finger actuated valve 40 is fully opened.

It has been found that the time required for setting hair is reduced to at least half that ordinarily taken using conventional equipment and methods. Among the reasons for this time savings is the important fact that one stroke of the device as seen in FIG. 1 will straighten the hair it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a hair grooming device, comprising,

a frame member having a handle at one end,

a plurality ofteeth at the opposite end of said frame extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said frame member,

said frame having a passageway extending lengthwise thereof with outlet ports in communication with each of said teeth,

a chamber in communication with said passageway,

means for causing the transfer of liquid from said chamber-to saidoutlet ports,

said chamber being defined by a collapsible container forming a part of said handle, and a valve means dis-' posed in'said passageway and having an actuating element exposed for engagement by'the users hand while holding said handle and using said device,

spring means engaging said actuating means for normally maintaining said valve means in a closed condition,

a vertical valve means including a'set screw threaded into said frame and extending into said passageway to selectively and positively control the flow in said passageway, and

said vertical valve means being disposed between said chamber and said first mentioned valve means.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first valve means includes a closure element having a first portion with an opening extending therethrough and upon said element being moved to an open position, said opening is disposed inside of said passageway in said frame in registration therewith, and said closure element having a second portion closing said passageway upon said element being moved to a closed position with said opening in said first portion being disposed outside of said passageway.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said ports are offset along lines disposed at an angle of less than degrees to the flow of liquid along the longitudinal axis of said passageway.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein a finger member extends from the side of said frame opposite from said teeth, said finger being secured to saidframe at a point intermediate its ends and extending in substantially parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of said frame along a portion of the length of said frame, and said finger along its substantial length being spaced from said frame member and terminating in a free end portion.

5. ,In a hair grooming device, comprising,

- a frame member having a handle at one end,

a plurality of aligned teeth at the opposite end of said frame extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of Said frame member,

a finger member extending from theside of said frame opposite said teeth, said finger being secured to said frame at a point intermediate its ends and extending in substantially parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of said frame along a portion of the length of said frame,

said finger along its substantial length being spaced from said frame member and terminating in a free end j portion disposed longitudinally adjacent said opposite end of said frame, and said frame being further defined as having a; plurality of aligned teeth onsaid portion of said frame along which said finger extends, and said teeth extending towards said finger with their outer ends terminating in spaced relation thereto, and said second mentioned pluraltiy of teeth being substantially shorter in length than said first mentioned plurality of teeth.

6. Thestructure of claim 5 wherein said frame has a '7 passageway extending lengthwise thereof with outlet ports in communication with each of said first mentioned teeth, a chamber in communication with said passageway, means for causing the transfer of liquid from said chamber to said outlet ports.

7. The structure of claim 6 and said chamber is defined by a collapsible container forming a part of said handle, and a valve means disposed in said passageway and having an actuating element exposed for engagement by the users hand While holding said handle and using said device.

8. The structure of claim 6 and said chamber is defined by a collapsible container forming a part of said handle, and a valve means disposed in said passageway and having an actuating element exposed for engagement by the users hand While holding said handle and using said device, and spring means engaging said actuating means for normally maintaining said valve means in a closed condition.

9. The structure of claim 5 wherein said finger free end portion is further defined as terminating longitudi- 20 nally outwardly of theadjacent end of said comb.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith et a1 132139 Farmer 132112 Babasin 132-84 Forte 132-116 Donahoo 132-122 Madore 132-122 Williams 132-122 Pearson 1321 14 Dove 132124 Sluss 132l13 Chester 132139 X Hofmann 132--114 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. R. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner. 

